Washing machine



Nov. 17; 1942.

.1. B. KiRBY WASHING MACHINE Filed' Feb. 16, 1939 INVENTOR JAMES B. KIRBY MATTO Y Patented Nov. 17, 1942 UNITED STATESYPATENT OFF-ICE James B. Kirby, West Richiield, Ohio, assignor to The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Company, --,.Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio, as

trustee Application February 18, 1939, Serial No. 258,657 '1 Claim. (01.68-133) Figure 1, there is shown a washer tub I, having This invention relates to a clothes washing machine and in particular to a dasher or agitator therefor. v

The present invention is a continuation-in part of my copending application Serial No.

68,273, filed March 11,1936, for Laundry Inachine. 1

The invention has for its objects the provision 01. an improved form of washing machine agitator, which is simple andeasy to make, which requires a minimum amount of metal, which is highly eflicient in its operation, and which serves to eflectively and simultaneously agitate the clothes and washing fluid in several distinct areas and zones in the washing machine tub with the result that substantially the entire contents of the tub are being worked upon and washed at one and the same time during the operation of the agitator. A

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent and better understood after consideration has been given to the following detailed description of the invention, taken in connection with the drawing which shows,

' merely by way of illustration, structure adapted forcarrying out the objects of the invention,

In the drawing: 'Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view partly in section of a washing machine showing one form of .-'agitator illustrative'of the inven-. tion;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the agitator shown in Figure 13' Figure 3 is a side elevational view of an agitator illustrating another species of the invention;.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of an agitator illustrating another species of the invention;

Figure 5 isa plan view and Figure 6 is a side elevational view of an agitator illustrating another species of the invention;

Figure 7 is a plan view and Figure 8 is a side elevational view of an agitator illustrating another species of the invention; and

FigureQ is a perspective view of an agitator illustrating yet another species of the invention.

The'six difierent species of agitators illustrated herein have the common feature of providing a plurality of impelling surfaces in which the impelling surfacesare circumferentially spaced about the axis of the agitator and located at different elevations relative to the bottom of the washer tub.

a bottom 2, from which an agitator 3 extends to a level slightly above the normal fluid level in the tub. The agitator comprises a conical base 4 -with a downturned flange 5 at its edge, vertical,

upstanding lower blades 6 and I, and vertical upstanding upper blades 8 and 10. These four blades project radially outwardly from a center post i I and upwardly from the base 4. The side The an upwardly inclined lower edge. The top edges of the upper blades are substantially horizontal and exhibit rounded corners where they merge the same time this takes place the trailing faces of the blades exert a suction efiect and tend to draw the fluid and clothes toward the rear surfaces of the blades and inwardly toward the center of the agitator, while at the same time moving the fluid and clothes in the same circumferential direction as the blades are moving.

Upon clockwise movement of the agitator, the combined effect of these movements of fluid and clothes in the quadrant of the agitator toward the observer in Figure 1 is an inward movement.

at the upperportion of the agitator and an outward movement at the lower portion of the agitator, with the result that the fluid and clothes curve or spiral inwardly at the top, then downwardly and then outwardly at the bottom of the agitator while at the sametime moving in a clockwise direction. The fluid and clothes in the adjoining quadrants curve or spiral inwardly at the bottom, then upwardly and then outwardly at the top of the agitator, while at the same time moving in a clockwise directionaround the tub.

When the rotation of the agitator is reversed, the general circumferential direction-of movement of the fluid and clothes is also reversed'and I the action previously described for the adjoining quadrants of the agitator now takes place in the quadrant of the agitator facing the observer in In the species of the invention illustrated in Fig re 1 and the previously described action for I upon the relation of the areas of the upper and the lower blades which areas in the present instance are' substantially the same. It should be evident that when either the upper or the lower blades are substantially relatively larger with respect to each other, the action of the agitator would be quite different and larger lower or upper blades would tend to overcome and minimize the action of the smaller upper or lower blades, respectively.

This action is radically different from the customary vortex action for gyrator-type clothes washers because the clothes instead of following a rather regular path of movement, sometimes referred to as roll-over, which by the way is objectionable because of the strong tendency it has to wind and wrap the articles being washed about each other, move both inwardly and outwardly in both the upper and lower portions of the tub while at the same time moving both upwardly and downwardly in the different quadrants of the agitator with the result that the clothes are flexed flrst in one direction and then in another as they are whipped about and spiral inwardly, downwardly and outwardly and then inwardly, upwardly and outwardly during the operation of the agitator while at the same time being rubbed and scrubbed by the surfaces of the agitator,

I'he agitator 20 illustrated in Figure 3 comprises a conical base 2| having a downwardly turned flange 22 at its edge and blades 23,24, 25 and 2B which project outwardly from a center post 21 and which are joined at their lower edges to the base 2|. The blades 23 and 25 are generally triangular in shape while the outer edges of the blades 24 and 26 exhibit a sinusoidal curve with the narrowest portions of these'blades being' located on about the same elevation as that for the widest portions of the blades 23 and 25.

In its action the agitator shown in Figure 3 has many of the characteristics of the agitator first described. Upon clockwise movement of the agitator in the quadrant of the agitator facing the observer in Figure 3, the fluid and clothes are 'I'he action of the agitator 20 in effect produces separate circulatory movements the v lower and upper halves of the tub contents which are similar tothe effect produced bythe agitator 3 on the tub contents as a whole. 'The action of the agitator .20 thus provides for greater flexing. of the clothes and more rubbing and scrubbing of theclothes against eachfother and against the blades of the agitator with a corre-' spondingly enhanced efliciency of operation.

In the species of the invention illustrated in Figure 4, the agitator 30 shown therein comprises a conical base 3| having a downwardlyturned flanged edge 32 and three verticallydisposed, equidistantly-spaced, laterally-extending blades 33, 34 and 35. The aforesaid blades extend outwardly from a center post 31 and the lower blade 35 and the intermediate blade 33 join the base 3| at their lower ends.

The agitator 30 is somewhat similar in its ,construction and operation to the agitator 20 just described, the principal difference being that the latter agitator employs three blades of comparable area, each having a portion of maximum width located on a different elevation, said elevations corresponding to the upper, 'intermediate and lower levels of the washing fluid. In. its operation the advancing faces of the blades impel the fluid and clothes outwardly while the trailing faces of the blades draw the fluid and clothes inwardly at the threedifierent elevations mentioned. At the, same time this takes place there is, also movement of the fluid and clothes in vertical directions after the manner previously described, such movements extending between the intermediate and the lower levels, the lower and the upper levels and the v upper and the intermediate levels for the three drawn in at the top and in at the bottom of the trailing face of the blade 24 as the advancing face of the blade 25 propels the fluid and clothes outwardly at the intermediate portion of the agitator and the agitator as a whole moves the -tub contents in a clockwise direction.

While the aforesaid action is taking place the fluid and clothes in the adjoining quadrants-move inwardly at the intermediate portion of the agitator behind the trailing faces of the blades 23 and 25 and outwardly at the upper and lower portions of the advancing faces of the blades 24 and 28.- The blades 24, 25 and 28 of the agitator exhibit successive maximum impelling areas at the top, middle and bottom and at the bottom. middle and top of the agitator.

The action of the agitator shown in Figure 3 is similar to the action of the agitator shown in Figure 1 in that the fluid and clothes curve or spiral inwardly, upwardly and outwardly in one quadrant and then inwardly, downwardly and outwardly in the next quadrant, the difference being that while the aforesaid movements are taking place in the lower half of the tub con- Y tents, thecontents in the upper half thereof are moving inwardly, downwardly and outwardly in the first quadrant and then inwardly, upwardly and outwardly in the next quadrant. 1

respective sectors of the agitator.

The agitator "illustratedin Figures 5 and 6 comprises a conical base 4| having a downwardly turned flanged edge 42 and a pair of blades 48 and 44. V The blades extend radially outward- .ly from a center post 45 and at their lower ends they merge with the base 4|. Both blades are of similar construction and they are formed by winding a warped surface about the axis of the agitator, the edgeof such surface extending sharply inwardly intermediate ,the height of the agitator as is clearly 'showndn Figure 6. Because of this the agitator exhibits four different impelling surfaces two of which are provided by the relatively wide lower portions of each of the blades and twooi' which are provided by the relatively wide upper portions of each of the blades. 7

The aforesaid lower portions of the blades are curved to form concave surfaces on one' s ide-of the blade and a convex surface on the" opposite side of the same portion of the blade. 'Ihe aforesaid concave surfaces of each blade, both face in the same direction around the tub. The upper portions of the blades are similarly formed to provide a concave surface .at one side and a convex surface-at the opposite side of the blade. The concave surfaces of the upper portions of the blades, however, face in an opposite direction to the concave surfaces of the lower portions of the blades. a

The action of the agitator shown in Figures 5 and 6 ia similar to the action of theagitators I and l, differing therefrom principally in that the concave-convex surfaces of the lower portions of the blades tend to impart a general, onewaycirculatlon about the axis of the tub in a than there is in the case of the agitator 3' shown in Figure 1.

clockwise direction, while the concave-convex surfaces of the: upper portion of the blades tend to produce a revolution of the clothes in an opposite 1y movements previously described in connection with the agitator 3. The result of the compounding of the aforesaid movements is to' provide a complete and thorough agitation of the clothes which in turn results in a rapid .and efficient washing of the clothes. The agitator l differs structurally and functionally from the agitator shown in my United States Reissue Patent No. 20,313 because of the dividing of the two blades of the agitator into four different, separate and distinct impelling areas.

The agitator 50 illustrated in Figures 7 and 8' comprises a conical base part having a downwardly-turned, flanged edge 52, and a pair of lower blades 53 and 54 projecting upwardly from the base 5| and joined at their inner edges to a center post 55. The upper portion of the center-post carries a pair of ,radially-extending blades 56 and 51. The. surfaces of the four blades of the a tator as they extend upwardly from the bottom of the agitator are wound about the axis of the agitator in a counter-clockwise direction when the agitator is viewed from above and, as in the case of the agitator 40, the blades of the present agitator exhibit concave-convex surfaces which face in the same direction as for the corresponding portions of the blades of the agitator 40.

The action of the agitator illustrated in Figures '7 and 8 is substantially the same as for agitator 40 and some slight advantages in the way of increased washing efficiency are present in the agitator 50 over the agitator 40 as a result of the complete separation of the upper and lower impelling areas of the blades.

The agitator 60 which is illustrated in Figure.

9 comprises a base part SI of stepped construction terminating in a downwardly-turned, flanged edge 62. This agitator is provided with four blades 62, 63, 64 and 65. The blades 63 and 85 which are of similar contour extend across the entire radius of the base part 6| and project upwardly therefrom for a portion only of the height of the agitator. The inner edges' of the blades 63 and 65 are joined to a center post 66. The lower edges of the blades 62 and 64 extend radially outwardly at their bottom edges a distance equal to the radius of the upper ledge Sla of the base and they extend upwardly throughout the entire height of the agitator. The blades Bland 64 are of similar contour and their inner edges,.

too, are joined to the center post .66. The upper edges of all four blades extend in -a direction downwardly and outwardly away from the axis of the agitator. r i

In its operation the agitator illustrated in Fig- I ure 9 includes most of the characteristicsof the agitators 40 and 50, differing therefrom in that the greater part of the agitation is largely confined to the lower two-thirds-of the washing fluid, with the result that the action in the upper portion of the tub is somewhat less severe than it is in the case of the other species of this invention. By reducing the'area of the topmost portions of the blades, 82 and 64, there is less tendency for this agitator to cause splashing The This same result is accomplished to a lesser extent in the agitators 30,40 and 5|! which also exhibit upper blades, the edges v of which extend downwardly and outwardly.

The operation of the various agitators and the circulation of the fluid and clothes previously described varies somewhat in the matter of degreefor different loads and where large pieces of clothing are being washed, individual portions of the mass of fl ui'd and clothing do not follow any very precise paths, because, while the impelling' surfaces tend to cause the circulation described, portions of a, large article of clothing will lie in different portions of the tub and the tendency to move suchan'article in one direction in one quadrant of the agitator may be neutralized or even reversed by the forces which other portions of the tub.

are acting upon another portion of the same article in a different quadrant of the agitator, so

that under ordinary operating conditions itis diflicult to trace out the exact paths followed by the fluid and clothes and theprevious de- I While the forces and fluid currents were described with particular reference to the operating zone of the agitator it should be noted that the sides and bottom of the tub also have some effect on the fluid circulation which takes place outside the operating zone of the agitator. The effect of the tub sides on the adjacent fluid and clothes is to cause them to 'move in paths parallel to the sides, while the tub bottom tends to divert or constrain the fluid and clothes adjacent thereto to move in horizontal paths. Thus if these is an outward movement of fluid and clothes away from the agitator at the bottom of the tub and an inward movement of the fluid and clothes thereabove there would be a resultant upward movement at the sides of the tub .where the outwardly moving stream would-tend to flow upwardly and'join the inwardly moving stream in I accordance with the well understood phenomena involving the flow of liquids. in a similar manner when the fluid movement is outward at the top and inward at the bottom there would be a resultant downward movement at the sides of the tub. I

The agitators shown in Figures 3 to 8 inclusive are adapted to be interchanged with the agitator 3 in the tub l and they can be secured to the agitator shaft. l3 by any suitable means such as the screw I2 referred to earlier herein.

Having thus described my invention, what ,isdesired to beobtained by Letters Patent, is deflned by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is: 1

In a washing machine, a tub, an agitator, comprising a circular base, an upright tubular post centrally mounted on said base, a pair of upper washing vanes connected to saidpost at degrees ,from each other, said upper vanes varying in width and having their maximum width above the. center of the center post and decreasing in width downwardly'so that the minimum width of vane is'disposed below the midpoint along the vertical height of said center post, a pair of lower vanes secured to said circular base and to said center post having their maximum width near said base and decreasing in width upwardly thereof to a point above the midpoint of said center post, said lower vanesbeing connected to said center post at substantially 90 degrees from the upper vanes. said upper and lower vanes being curved along their edges in the area of maximum width to form concave washing sur- 10 faces and being proportioned vertically so that the curved edges overlap each other for at least a portion 01 their vertical extent, said base and blades being spaced from the side wall of the tub, and the base having a radial extent sufllcient to guide the clothes and fluid outwardlybeyond the blades and into thespace between the agitation and tub wall.

JAMES B. KERBY. 

